Device for night fishing



1948- E. M. DIGMON 2,446,459

DEVICE FOR NIGHT FISHING Filed Sept. 16, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor 1948- E. M. DIGMON 2,446,459

I DEVICE FOR NIGHT FISHING Filed Sept. 16, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 39 1 853 .DfiZflOZZ @@Q E@@ V a Attorneys 1948- E. M; DIGMON 2,446,459

DEVICE FOR NIGHT FISHING Filed Sept. 16, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Mumm I L B, 1 WW I nz'eutor Ed J1, Di'yzaan Attorneys 1943- E. M. DIGMON 2,446,459

DEVICE FOR NIGHT FISHING Filed Sept. 16, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [mm/tor Dg'ymon I Patented Aug. 3, 1948 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR NIGHT FISHING Ed M. 'Digmon, Birmingham, Ala.

Application September 16, 1946, Serial No. 697,336

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a device for night fishing, and more particularly to a float or bob having means for connection with a, fishing line, in the form of a globe designed to float in the water and provided with a pilot light to indicate its location at night time, and signal lights, the pilot light being normally connected in circuit with batteries, as a source of electrical current, the circuit to which is normally closed and adapted to be opened when a fish strikes in an attempt to take the bait from the hook of the line, so as to open the circuit to the pilot light so as to extinguish the same and close the circuit to the signal lights to cause the same to be lighted so that the fishermen will be warned o1 notified of a' catch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device or float for use when fishing at night, the float being designed to contain the batteries and switches normally closing the circuit to a pilot light on top of the float and normally opened to signal lights around the float out of view of the fish, so that when a fish attempts to take the bait and pulls downward on the line, the switch to the pilot light will be opened to extinguish the same and the circuit to the signal lights closed, to indicate when the fish strikes, the float containing a unit removably mounted therein with a guide member having contacts controlling the flow of current to the pilot and signal lights and a battery removable with respect thereto and operated by pull on the line to open the circuit to the pilot light and close the circuit to the signal lights, thereby making it possible for the fisherman to determine when the fish strikes in the dark or at night time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a float which is waterproof, and provided with means for removably or detachably anchoring the electrical unit therein and for obtaining access thereto through an opening in the top, for assembly, for replacement or repair while maintaining a cover over the opening in water tight connection, so that the same will not be fouled by the entry of water when in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide having signalling means including a pilot light, and signal lights, which is of simple construction, can be readily assembled or disassembled and which is durable in use.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a device for night fishing constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a diametrical sectional elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;'

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged diametrical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3; I

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a detailed fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a detailed fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 2;

Figure 10 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line Iii-l0 of Figure 4;

Figure 11 is a detailed perspective view of a contact plate for the switch of the signal light, and

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit to the lights.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the device of the present invention is shown as comprising a float ID in the form of a globe, preferably about 8" in diameter made of light rust resisting metal, plastic, cardboard or other suitable material which will float, the globe bein hollow. The top of the globe is provided with a circular opening H closed by a cover i2 conforming to the shape of the globe and separated therefrom as the chord of an arc with an interposed packing or gasket of cork, rubber or other pilot light formed by a light bulb l9, within the,

shield l4 and also anchored to the bar 18 by a bolt or binding post 29 connecteclto the-filament of the light bulb, is removably secured to the cross-bar or support I8 to detachablysecure the cover [2 in position whereby to-perm-it in sertion of the electrical unit in the assembly of the device as well as to permit disassembly thereof for access to the interior parts, for replacement or repair.

Thet 'bar l8 is'supporteidfin' spaced; parallel relation to a: lower bar 21" also or insulating material by means of spacedvertical parallel guides 22 in which a battery container- EB- -is mounted for" vertical: sliding movement" at grooves 14 in the opposed-sides thereof. The battery con.- tain'erw 23 has two compartments 25 in which suitable batteries, 'suc hr as--drybatteries 26: are mounted andi'protected by'xa cover-11;.

The upperends of the guides: 22 are suitably anchored 'tothe= cross-bar 18 at theends of the latter through the medium of outwardl project.- ingi angular portions 28*engaging: the underside and ends of the bar I8 and bolted therethrough as at 29; to formbinding postsor terminals. The lower ends of the guides'22. aredirected-outwardly" as at 30, and-"anchored: to v the end portions of the-ban 2 l as'by' bolts; 3t; with interposed contact plates Mspaced-apart at their-inner ends, the contact plates having spacedfiholes 33' similar to the out-turned I ends: or foot portions 30 of the guides 22 to receive the fastening means. 3l and' also having raised; studs orcontactportions 34 on which contactuspringsfi'are: suitablysecured. -The bar 211 ist-provided with a central depending threadeds'shank36-the ex:- ternal threads of 'which-- are screwed: into {the internal threads of a-socket 31* bolted'or otherwisesecured asindicated at 38 centrally to the-bottom of the hollow shell forming'the globular-float H), but any othersuitable form of detachablewconnection may be provided for mounting the stationary guides 22 within and upon the bottom of the float H1 at the inside.

The container 23 centrally-- between-the compartments 25 receives therethroughand through the cover-ZL-a stem 39-having a nut-or; other detachable securing meanslfl at its upperend removably securing the-cover 21 in position and extending through-aligned boresin thecover andcentral partition 'of the container 23: and extending through a: coilspring 4| retained in a counter-bore 42 at'the lower end'of the container and partition and seated in arecess in the top" of the bar 2I- at the bottom of the guides to normally urge the container 23 upwardly. The stem 39 is sufiicientlylong to extendthrougha-central opening 43- at the bottom-.of theglobe-orfloat lil where itis engaged by a-turnbuckle or. anutM having a 'swiveled eye at the bottom for connect-ion to a fishing line -to determine the depth of the hooks thereof in the water and adapted to bepulled downwardly in the eventof a catch or strike, by the-fish to correspondingly lower the container 23 on its guides 22 with the rod or stem 39 against the action of the spring M tending to elevate the container which is preferably made of plastic or some light insulating material. The top contacts 46 of the batteries 26 engage contact springs 41 in recesses 48 in the bottom of the cover 21 connected to bolts 49 forming electrical connection with a connecting strip 50 on the cover 21 of the container secured by the-fasteningcnut all on the bolt, stem or rod '39'and additional fastening means or bolts 51 also anchoring the connecting conductor strip "to the cover 21 in connection with a bottom strip M ir desired: A switch including a spring contact 5,3 is, attached to the bolt or shank 2B forming st-binding post for the bulb l9 beneath the cross bant8, andvretained by the nut thereof to extenddownwardly and outwardly in spaced relationto the bottom face of the bar 68. A circuit spring contact 5451s secured to the socket orshell J 6- -to attach: the. latter tothe bar 'i 8 by'a fastening meanspsuchsasabolt 55; the contact, fia -being rebenta-to exatend; inwardly and downwardly at one-end in. correspondingspaced relation to the?"bottomv oft-the; bar 18 and completing-the'circuitvtathe lamp l9 by connection or the; terminal Zllwith the filament thereof and ottherpostflawith the-shell- 56 forming the base of thealight bu1bl9, -as.lat-.- 51. Contactsrods 58 extendwthrough the centralpartition wall of the container 23 andare: in th form-of bolts the upper. ends-of; whichare designedto engage the spring, contacts, 53: and: 54 under !the:- urgence. of the spring H to closeqthecircuit to the-pilotlight on bulb la-inftheznormal position 0f -the movable contacts 58 with the container 2% and: batteries 26. The -lower ends ofthe batteries ZBInormally engagevcontacts inthe form of stems or bolts 59 on theilowerheaded; ends of=which are retained angular contact 'barst'or-connectingstrips GBJhaV- ingcontacts-Bt at their opposite. ends to engage-the spring-contacts 'ilfi when downward pull Isa-exerted onsthestem .439? by the line connected to the turnbuckle-Mi at ='the .eye 4.5; which latter is swiveled to prevent foulingrof the line, hooks ands-bait; The-contacts filaare formed as. the head ofv thecontact rods 58 atthe bottom. or .the container 23.

L Arranged around-the hollow globeformingthe float lit-anequi-distantly spacedpoints below the-cover4 2 and'epening-i-l, are a plurality of signa1. lamps (SA-which may-be coloredw for easy vision, suchas alternately red and green as shown in Figure1 1: and comprising transparent shields or covers secured in rims-.63 of corresponding non-rusting metal or otherwise bolted through thewall of the float was indicated atfi l-and disposed over-openings 6.51m said wall in which are motmted'llghtbulbs 56 protected from the water by interposed packings. or; gaskets between the globes 62 and-therims.onframes 63. Threaded supports or slhells '65 are-retained in position by the, bolts 6dr andimount, insulated plugs or supports 66? havingnexternal: metallic shells 61 removablylmountedion threaded within the shells or sockets 55 the insulated. plugs or, supports 66' hearing-internally -.threaded--sockets- .68 at their outenends, in. which the bases or shells 69- are mounted to. form sockets .forthe bases 10 of. the light bulbsfi B.- with connection madethrough. the frames or.=rims. andsockets 65, with thesockets 69 to 'theibases 118; .and .to; the. filaments. ofthe bulbs 66 throughthecentral contact H with a bindingpost; stemor bolt- :12 extendingthrough an flaxi'al bore inthefiplugsfit'ntothe. inside and connected by conductor or strip 13 around the inside or hollow chamber of the float or glob-e Ill to act as a ground for the circuit, unless the globe is of metal, in which event the bases iii may be grounded to the metallic shell of the globe or float E0. The light bulbs 66 are connected in series to the shells or sockets 69 by the conductor or strip 73 to the filaments and bases 19 and through the sockets E9 and 65' by a conductor 14 which is in turn connected at its ends to the terminals 29 one of which is connected to the conductor 74 and the other of which is connected to the conductor 13, so that when the container 23 is moved downwardly on the guides 22 by a pull on the line, the contacts 58 are disengaged from the contacts 53 and 54 to open the circuit to the lamp It and. engage the contacts 6| with the contacts 35 to close the circuit to the signal lamps of the bulbs 68. In this manner, the pilot light M at the bulb I s, which is normally lighted to permit the position of the float to be ascertained in the dark or at night time, is extinguished at the bulb l9 and the signal lamps or lights 62 are lighted at the bulbs 66 to indicate when there is a catch or strike, so that attention may be given to the line by the fisherman, Upon pull or tension being released from the line, the contacts 6! will be disengagedfrom the contacts 35 stationary with the bar 2|, and the contacts 6! and 58 moved upwardly with the container 23 on the guides 22 under the urgency of the resilient member or spring 4 I, to open the circuits to the signal lamps and extinguish the same, while closing the circuit to the pilot lamp or light by engagement of the contacts 58 with the contacts 53 and 54, the circuit in each. case being closed from a source of electrical current, namely the batteries 26 to the respective lamps, or opened by disconnection of the movable contacts 58 and El with respect to the contacts 53 and 54, and 35 respectively using the same source of current in each instance. However, access to the container may be had by removing the cover I 2 of the float I0, for renewing the batteries 26, or for the replacement or repair of the parts, in addition to the original assembly of the electrical unit and the mounting thereof within the globular float or hollow chamber thereof. Of course, it is to be understood that the globular float ill should float in the water and extend above the same a sufficient height, to constantly expose the signal light bulbs in addition to the pilot light by which the position :of the device is ascertained at night.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as my invent-ion is:

1. In a device for night fishing, a globular float having an opening in top thereof, a cover for said opening conforming to the float, a pilot light in the cover, a plurality of signal lights around the float outwardly of the pilot light, a source of electric current within the float, stationary contacts connected to the respective pilot light and signal lights, a movable member having contacts for alternately engaging the contacts of the pilot and signal lights, and means for actuating the movable contacts upon a pull on a fishing line.

2. In a device for night fishing, a globular float having an opening in top thereof, a cover for said opening conforming to the float, a pilot light in the cover, a plurality of signal lights around the float outwardly of the pilot light, a source of electric current within the float, stationary contacts connected to the respective pilot light and signal lights, a movable member having contacts for alternately engaging the contacts of the pilot and signal lights, and a stem depending through and below the float and connected to the movable contacts and having means for connecting a fish l-ine thereto at its portion extending into the water, for supporting hooks and bait, to exert downward pull thereon upon a strike or catch, to actuate said movable contacts.

3. In a device for night fishing, a globular float having an opening in top thereof, a cover for said opening conforming to the float, a pilot light in the cover, a plurality of signal lights around the float outwardly of the pilot light, a source of electric current within the float, stationary contacts connected to the respective pilot light and signal lights, a movable member having contacts for alternately engaging the contacts of the pilot and signal lights, and means for actuating the movable contacts upon a pull on a fishing line, said movable contacts being normally resiliently actuated to close the circuit to the pilot light and open the circuit to the signal lights.

4. In a device for night fishing, a globular float having an opening in top thereof, a cover for said opening conforming to the float, a pilot light in the cover, a plurality of signal lights around the float outwardly of the pilot light, a source of electric current within the float, stationary contacts connected to the respective pilot light and signal lights, a movable member having contacts for alternately engaging the contacts of the pilot and signal lights, a stem depending through and below the float and connected to the movable contacts and having means for connecting a fish line thereto at its portion extending into the water, for supporting hooks and bait, to exert downward pull thereon upon a strike or catch, to actuate said movable contacts, and resilient means normally urging the movable contacts into engagement of the contacts for the pilot light and adapted to disengage therefrom for engaging the contacts of the signal lights upon the pull on the line.

.5. A device for fishing at night, comprising a globular float having an opening in the .top, a cover for said opening, an electrical unit detachably mounted in the float, guide members fixedly mounted within the float, a movable contact member arranged to move on said guide members and including a battery container, a pilot light having a protecting shield at the top of the cover, signal lights having protecting shields around the opening of the float, stationary con tacts carried by :the guide members and connected to the respective pilot light and sign-a1 lights, and means connected to the movable contacts for connection with a fish line, for actuating the same upon a pull on the line.

6. A device for fishing at night, comprising a globular float having an opening in the top, a cover for said opening, an electrical unit detachably mounted in th float, guide members fixedly mounted within the float, a movable contact mem ber arranged to move on said guide members and including a battery container, a pilot light hav-- ing a protecting shield at the top of the cover, signal lights having protecting shields around the opening of the float, stationary contacts carried by the guide members and connected to the respective pilot light and signal lights, a stem connected to the movable member and depending aemeae 7 through the bottomof the float,- means urging said contacts upwardly, and meanstfor'conneeti'onnf a. line to said stem whereby .downwardupufl thereon Will separate'the icenta'cts to the pilot light and close the contacts t'o'thesignal lights.

ED DIGMGN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Hogg May 8,1928 Derr .Dec. 3, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Sweden Dec. 6, 1919 

